The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations is telling Ottawa to start funding the legislation it passed to hand First Nations child welfare over to First Nations.
Chief Bobby Cameron says Indigenous leaders were thrilled when bill C-92 was adopted last summer but they have their own enabling legislation ready to be implemented but it needs long term sustainable funding.
Cameron feels the 10,000 First Nations children in provincial care would be better off in their system which offers Indigenous tradition, culture and language.
The FSIN Chief believes First Nations children under their care would have a better chance of succeeding, insisting the cycle of addictions and incarceration would continue in the provincial system.
Vice Chief David Pratt says the FSIN isn’t interested in a pilot project because they have a plan that has been in place for about 30 years.
Pratt wonders why 324 First Nations children were seized at birth by the province of Saskatchewan this year while there were only two such cases in British Columbia.
Pratt says Saskatchewan’s social service system is failing First Nations children and needs to be replaced with theirs.
Cameron says their plan will be sent to First Nations officials across the country and they can adopt all or part of it based on the needs of their communities.
He couldn’t put a specific dollar value on the amount of money needed from Ottawa but Cameron says it will be considerable and some Indigenous leaders are willing to launch legal action if the money isn’t forthcoming.
Cameron will meet next week with Saskatchewan Social Service Minister Paul Merriman and hopes the province supports their push for federal funding suggesting that support could lead to FSIN support for provincial priorities like fighting the federal carbon tax.
The FSIN Chief also hopes to meet soon with new Federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller.
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